The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-31
THE BALTIMORE TRUNK MYSTERY.
Unger Breaks Down and Makes Confession
Giving Full Details of His Hideous Crime.

New York. Jan. 3o.-Edward Unger. who is
afterwards shipping the mangled remains in
trunk to Baltimore, made full confession of the
horrible tragedy. last night, to Inspector
Byrnes. After returning from the Tombs
police court Yesterday afternoon, Unger appeared
very nervous, and when near the Central Office
he turned to Inspector Byrnes and said: ''You
are trying to hang me, amt you!"
''You know whether you have committed any
crime or not" the Inspector replied.
On reaching headquarters the prisoner was
taken to his cell and locked up. At o'clock
last evening Unger was taken out of his cell
and shown the trunk in which the remains of his
victim had been packed. The prisoner shud-
dered and turned away. The new hammer and
weapons with which the crime had been COM
mitted was too much for the wretched assassin,
who almost fell to the floor with fear. The
prisoner was then led back to his cell again, but
before being locked up Inspector Byrnes told
him that when he was ready to tell the truth to
let him know. At o'clock last night Unger
called the turnkey and requested an interview
with the Inspector. The prisoner was brought
Office, where he said he was ready to tell the
whole truth -Unger then, in the presence of
Inspector Byrnes and several witnesses made
the following statement of his crime
Il live at No. % Ridge street. have known
August Bohle since November 1886 l first met
him in my lager beer saloon in Eldridge street,
where he called upon me about an advertise
ment had put IN paper for partner. but we
could not agree about the price, and I sold the
place out. Soon after Bohle came to live with
me in Ridge street. The agreement wag.hat re
should pay half the rent and one-third Of the
household expenses. After supper on the night
of Thursday, JAM %, Bohle and myself were
alone. talking about different matters. He was
sitting on the sofa and was in the act of poking
the fire. He was very profane, and called me
some very hard names. | told him to stop. and
struck me. sprang at him and attempted to
strike him with the poker. We then grappled,
and he picked up a knife and attempted to stab
me. ran into the bedroom and picked up a
hammer from off chest He made another at
tempt at me with the knife, and l received a
slight cut On the hand. then struck him with
the hammer and he staggered. l struck him
again. and the head Of the hammer
entered deep into his skull, up to
the handle, and he fell dead on
the sofa This about 10 o'clock l expected
my son home and in order to conceal the re-
mains of the dead man. took the body from the
sofa and laid it on the floor then took the cot
upon which Bohle used to sleep, and placed it
clothes. When my son came home, told him
that Bohle had gone out. Shortly afterward we
went to bed IN the same room with the dead
man. On the following morning. after my son
had gore to work, went TO Grand street, bought
| a saw for 90 cents and two yards of ribbon. Be-
| fore returning to the house took several drinks
| of whisky. On reaching home spread the rub
| ber on the floor and put the body on top of it.
| then started to cut the body up with the saw.
| first severed the head from the body, wrapped it
| up in paper and laid it aside. l then cut both
! legs off and, think, the left arm, and finding
4 the legs too long to put in the trunk cut both
| feet off and placed them in the trunk. I ther
| placed the body top of the legs, and the arms
on top of the body. I wiped up the blood
with some clothing of the deceased and
| some paper. put them in the trunk. and tied TIE
| trunk up. / then left the house and went to the
! Grand ferry carrying the head with me-
| I boarded Williamsburg boat, and when ir
| mid d-stream threw the head into the river.
then went to the residence of Henry Siegel, No
| 205 Throop street, Brooklyn, but on finding tina
he was not we'll l told his wife that Bohle hat
following day | shipped the trunk to Henry
| Bence. No 39o Kent avenue. On the same da.
| l transferred the trunk by Westcott's express t.
this city, having posted the following address.
upon it: John A. Wilson, Baltimore. Nd. Il
be called for The trunk was brought to thi
city and transported by Adams express to Balti
more / did not mean to kill Bohle. He was
very quarresome man, aud / believed my lif
to be in danger when he struck me. took tn
method did of disposing of the body becaus
l wanted to save myself and family from dis
grace"
Unger identified the trunk and the blood
clothing brought from Baltimore. The core
ner's inquest in the matter will be held on Tues
day